ALL 2004 IOC-RACES FOR SCALE CARS

1st EUROCUP SCALE RACING-GOTHA-ZLIN-MINDEN-PARDUBICE

JIRI MICEK JR WINS G12 & ES24

AT LEAST AN INTELLIGENT INITIATIVE IN SCALE RACING

We all know what scale racing is under the conservative nomenclatura of Charlie Gooding and his ISRA co-dictators: hardly more than a sick making joke. Although G12 racing is the most popular class in scale racing, hyper conservative Gooding found never time to introduce it at the ISRA world and to drop such classes as 132F1 and ES32, being hardly more than survivals of the early 1980s. Gooding and his co-dictators have still not understood that England is no longer a world leader in international politics, that this is still no longer the case since... 1890! Nevertheless Gooding believes that only the British should dictate the rest of the world what scale racing should be. The result of this nomenclatura was that number of scale racers gradually decreased.
By organising between March 2004 and November 2004 the EuroCup over 4 rounds, restricted to the popular G12 and ES24, and with separate rankings for amateurs and experts, German and Czech scale racers proved to belong to the actual postmodern society, while Gooding & Co still belong to the Victorian Era. At least European scale racers could enter an international series responding on what is living in the postmodern world. Old fashion fossils as 132F1 and ES32 were banned from the EuroCup. The dubious 124PR Team Race - as always organised by Gooding's ISRA - was banned as well. At the EuroCup scale racers could breath in all freedom a new postmodern air, freed from the Victorian ISRA yoke! 
The 2004 EuroCup went over four races in Gotha (D), Zlin (CZ), Minden (D) and Pardubice (CZ). Only the 3 best results per race were considered. A better formula should perhaps have been to add one round in England and another in Finland or Sweden, instead of two rounds in Czechia and two rounds in Germany.

Jiri Micek jr (mid) won the 2004 EuroCup ahead of dad Jiri Micek sr (left). Here we see father and son together with Kamil Klapka at the 2002 ESROC G27 Nats in Uden. There too Jiri Micek jr was the winner.

Attendance at the several rounds was still unequal, but except for Josef Korec, Frantisek Poledna, Thomas Rosenberg and Josef Miskolci all good scale racers from Central Europe entered at least one round, even IOC #2 Vladimir Horky (the best scale racer in the world) and 2004 world champion Petr Krcil. There were racers from Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Slovakia, Germany and Czechia. With Paolo Trigilio, Jaroslav Recek, Michal Radkovic, we found at some rounds toppers at the start. But the main surprise is that Germany counts again a sufficient number of scale racers, among them Heiko Thinschmidt, Reiner Borzutski, Roland Brehmer, Michael Krause and U.E. Pietsch as best ones. Since years we saw no Germans in the Victorian ISRA circus of SuperQueen Charlotte Gooding the First. I feel Germans have right not to enter the ISRA comedy swindled for a world championship. I consider ISRA as pure poison in slot-racing and I can only hope that the well attended EuroCup will open in the future its doors for the excellent racers of Scandinavia and England, so that the racers themselves can see with their proper eyes the distinction between Jurassic ISRA racing (where 8 days are spilled for 4 races!) and postmodern EuroCup racing. Someone has to ban ES32 and 132F1 from the interna-tional calendar, the first as totally overruled by ES24, the second as having never been a universal class.
Winner of the first EuroCup was Czechia's Jiri Micek jr, ahead of dad Jiri Micek sr (who at Chicago 1988 held me off the main final at the worlds!) and the surprisingly strong Heiko Thinschmidt, and this both in G12 and ES24. Of the twice four rounds Jiri Micek jr won three rounds, Antónin Vojtik won two rounds (the lonely two he entered, proving his terrible progress); Rainer Borzutski (what a surprise!!!) Paolo Trigilio and Michal Radkovic won each one round. The EuroCup has been immediately accepted as an IOC-event with 20-15-12-9-6-3-2-1 points for the top-8, both in G12 and ES24.
In Minden was won by Michal Radkovic (mid) ahead of Jaroslav Recek (right) and Jiri Micek sr (left).

Experts Eurosport G12
Place Name First Name Nat. Club Gotha Zlin Minden Pardubice Points
1 Míček Jiří jun. CZ Zlin 51 50 47 30(0) 148
2 Míček Jiří sen. CZ Zlin 37 26(0) 43 31 111
3 Thinschmidt Heiko D Gotha 33(0) 37 39 35 111
4 Kimmel Erik CZ Zlin 47 - 27 28 102
5 Brehmer Roland D Gotha 43 31 14(0) 26 100
6 Klapka Kamil CZ Zlin 29 41 30 29(0) 100
7 Krause Michael D Chemnitz 39 23 37 - 99
8 Mechl Viktor CZ Zlin 45 20(0) 29 24 98
9 Borsutzki Rainer D Gotha 41 29 17(0) 27 97
10 Pietsch U.E. D Chemnitz 31 33 31 - 95
11 Radkovič Michal CZ Brno - 48 45 - 93
12 Thinschmidt Rene D Gotha 35 28 - 23 86
13 Rölli Kurt CH Baar 30 30 25 - 85
14 Karlík Jiří CZ Praha - 39 - 45 84
15 Flaisig Pavel CZ Praha - 43 - 41 84
16 Okali Vlado SVK Bratislava - - 35 43 78
17 Lindner Uwe D Gotha 28 - 18 25 71
18 Limmer Holger D Plauen 27 27 - - 54
19 Trigilio Paolo I

-

 - - 51 - 51
20 Vojtík Antonín CZ Praha - - - 50 50
21 Bertocci Sergio I - - - 13 37 50
22 Horký Vladimír CZ - - - - 48 48
23 Krčil Petr CZ Pardubice - 45 - - 45
24 Kober Ingo D Plauen 26 - 19 - 45
25 Valle Andrea I

-

 - - 41 - 41
26 Hojer Miloš CZ Praha - - - 39 39
27 Kopriwa Fritz CH Baar - 21 16 - 37
28 Hochstein Siegfried D Berlin - - 15 22 37
29 Škoda Jan CZ Ostrov n. Ohri - 35 - - 35
30-31 Reček Jaroslav CZ

-

 - - 33 - 33
30-31 Hojer Martin CZ Praha - - - 33 33
32 Drosba Michael D Minden - - 28 - 28
33 Pensel Ingo D Bad Salzuflen - - 26 - 26
34-35 Paulus Herbert D Minden 25 - - - 25
35-35 Vadlejch Miroslav CZ Strakonice - 25 - - 25
36-38 Schmeer Dietmar D Türkenfeld - 24 - - 24
36-38 Nicoli Davide I

-

 - - 24 - 24
36-38 Köhler Roland D Scheinfeld 24 - - - 24
39 Brown-Searle Andy GB

-

 - - 23 - 23
40 Kamiet Rudi D Essen - - 22 - 22
41 Bradburn David GB - - - 21 - 21
42 Lees David GB - - - 20 - 20
43 Parker Ralph GB - - - 12 - 12

Experts Eurosport 1/24 (ES24)
Rank Name First Name Nat. Club Gotha Zlin Minden Pardubice Points
1 Micek Jiri jun. CZ Zlin 46 50 43 37(0) 139
2 Micek Jiri sen. CZ Zlin 43 47 45 39(0) 135
3 Thinschmidt Heiko D Gotha 41 39 24(0) 35 115
4 Borsutzki Rainer D Gotha 50 31 15(0) 33 114
5 Kimmel Erik CZ Zlin 39   30 41 110
6 Klapka Kamil CZ Zlin 37 33 37 26(0) 107
7 Mechl Viktor CZ Zlin 33 41 26(0) 28 102
8 Pietsch U.E. D Chemnitz 47 23 29 99
9 Radkovic Michal CZ Brno - 45 51 - 96
10 Brehmer Roland D Gotha 35 29 19(0) 30 94
11 Okali Vlado SVK Bratislava - - 41 45 86
12 Rölli Kurt CH Baar 31 43 12 - 86
13 Thinschmidt Rene D Gotha 28 27 14(0) 27 82
14 Kopriwa Fritz CH Baar - 26 17 25 68
15 Krause Michael D Chemnitz - 24 39 - 63
16 Bertocci Sergio I - - 31 29 60
17 Limmer Holger D Plauen 30 28 - - 58
18 Vojtík Antonín CZ Praha - - - 50 50
19-20 Recek Jaroslav CZ - - 47 - 47
19-20 Hojer Miloš CZ Praha - - - 47 47
21 Kober Ingo D Plauen 27 - 18 - 45
22 Hochstein Siegfried D Berlin - - 21 24 45
23 Flaisig Pavel CZ Praha - - - 44 44
24 Skoda Jan CZ Ostrov n. Ohri - 37 - - 37
25-26 Valle Andrea I - - 35 - 35
25-26 Schmeer Dietmar D Türkenfeld - 35 - - 35
27 Trigilio Paolo I - - 33 - 33
28 Hojer Martin CZ Praha - - - 31 31
29 Krcil Petr CZ Pardubice - 31 - - 31
30 Paulus Herbert D Minden 29 - - - 29
31 Drosba Michael D Minden - - 28 - 28
32 Pensel Ingo D Bad Salzuflen - - 27 - 27
33-34 Nicoli Davide I - - 25 - 25
33-34 Barg Gerald D Minden - 25 - - 25
35-36 Brown-Searle Andy GB - - 23 - 23
35-36 Karlik Jiri CZ Praha - - - 23 23
37 Parker Ralph GB - - 22 - 22
38 Lindner Uwe D Gotha - - 20 - 20
39 Lees David GB - - 16 - 16
40 Bradburn David GB - - 13 - 13

19th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SCALE RACING - LUND- Aug 13-14

PETR KRCIL WORLD CHAMP SCALE RACING

ĹBERG SECOND - BRITISH & ITALIAN RACERS AGAIN NOWHERE

August 13 - Let's tank God that not the scheduled 101 racers started at the so called 19th World Championship Scale Racing in Lund, but only 83, what means at least 18 field fillers less. And it is a strange world, that ISRA world, where the rest of the world was reduced to ...two racers: "Gugu" Bernardino and Herman James. Thanks to "Gugu" that rest takes at least any volume. So no Paul Gawronski (USA), no Dave Gick (NZ), no Jaroslav Recek (CZ), no Frantisek Poledna (CZ), no Mikail Radkovic (CZ), no Gustav Heymann (RSA), no Salvatore Noviello (I), no Giovanni Montiglio (I), no George Kimber (GB), no Greg Gilbert (USA), no Paul Harwood (GB), no Paul Ciccarello (USA), no Philip Helmuth (USA), no Tracy Chin (USA), no Lucas Folk (CZ), no Chris Radisich (NZ), no Paul 'Split' Heath (NZ), no Kimmo Rautama (SF), no Mike "Tomato" (USA), etc. But lots of Swedes and Latvians filling the emty seats. Not the number of entrants is important, well the quality of the entrants and their spread over the globe. I cannot deny that Mia Ekman & Co did a great job on organising this ISRA Worlds, but due to the conservatism of ISRA those Worls are rather a joke where nearly everything is predictable. Do you want the names of the 8 finalists one day before the Main? Here they come: 1. Vladimir Horky, 2. Josef Korec, 3. Michael Landrud, 4. Einari Fyhr, 5. Matti Fyhr, 6. Lasse Ĺberg, 7. Anders Gustafson and 8. Tomas Rosenberg. That means 3 Czechs, 3 Swedes and 2 Finns.
Where are the Brittons? Nowhere. Of their best four Brian Saunders qualified as 11th, Lee Parsons (the 124 BOC winner) as 20th, James Cleave as 28th and Charlie Gooding as 32nd. Only Saunders seems able to join the Main.
Where are the Italians? After his splendid come-back at the German Masters, where he won the two races, Paolo Trigilio contests the worst ISRA Worlds of his life. Now he qualified only as 26th. Only Piero Castricone - 12th at the Qualifications - has a small chance to make the Main. But Battistini is only 40th, Bertocchi only 46th, Niccoilai as low as 67th! Where are the glorious days with Sergio Maresca, Alberto Capra, Giuseppe Rudilosso, Giavanni Montiglio, Franco Gianotti, Bruno Novarese, Angelo Magnani, Silvio Giacobbi, etc. dominating the Scale Racing Worlds in earlier times. Remember Chicago 1989 where they were trusting the 6 first places!
And where is the rest of the world? Herman James qualified as low as 30th, "Gugu" even lower on rank 46.
Of the Baltic Army only Andris Podosinoviks makes a small chance reaching the Main after having qualified as 13th. But Janis Rage-Ragis was only 36th at the Qualifications. Eventually there was only one surprise: Ukraine's young Ihor Kuropy qualifying in 4"572 as 8th. All other results were fully predictable. Vladimir Horky TQ-ed in 4"345 and seems on his way to a fabulous 5th world championship's title. Josef Korec was third in 4"434, Thomas Rosenberg 7th in 4"510. The Fyhr Bros realised 4"457 (Einari) and 4"499 (Matti), being ranked 4th and 6th. 
Among the Swedes defending world champion Michael Landrud realised 4"581 (9th). But what a progress made Sweden's most professional wing car racers: 4"423 (2nd) for Gustafson and 4"462 (5th) for Ĺberg.
The rest of the world in one pic: except for "Gugu" Bernardino and Herman James all entrants are Europeans. But ISRA Chairman Charlie Gooding is proud to call this field fillers event a World Championship...


F.l.t.r. Lasse Ĺberg - proving which all-rounder he is -, the unexpected new world champion Petr Krcil and Vladimir Horky. Within one week we'll find them back at the IMCA Nats.

CONSIS: TRIGILIO, JAMES & GUGU ALREADY OUT
With Vladimir Jorky (CZ), Josef Korec (CZ), Anders Gustafson (S) and Einari Fyhr (SF) being free as four fastest qualifiers, the remaining 79 racers had to contest one of the 10 consis. Here the British and Italian racers - having been nowhere in the previous races in Lund - had their last chance to prove that they have still a place on the international scene. For the Italians the Consis were a pure sisaster, since only Piero Castricone succeeded to reach the Semis (with 24 racers). Paolo Trigilio - for who this ISRA Worlds were full of disappointment - finished as first non qualified racer. The British racers did it better since their top-4 finished among the top-24 with James Cleave, Brian Saunders, Lee Parsons and Charlie Gooding.
Of all Swedes only Anders Gustafson (free from Consis), Michael Landrud, Lasse Ĺberg and the surprising Mikael Gustavsson were the four ones to make the move; Janne Ekman once more came no further than the Consis. Much better performed the Czechs with 9 of their racers in the top-24: Horky, Korec, Rosenberg, Krcil, Vojtik, Martin Hojer, Karlik, Flaisig and Vadlejch. Finland saw (of course) the Fyhr Bros making the move. Latvia had two qualified racers: Andris Podosinoviks and Aivis Ruks (but no Janis Rage-Ragis). Ukraine had Ihor Kuropiy placed (but no Valentin Iskandorov). Lithuania had Arunas Leonavicius (but no Simas Nemira). Other countries as Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Slovakia, Malta had no one. And the rest of the world, those two non-Europeans? Herman James (USA) had to retire after 192 laps and "Gugu" Bernardino was found among the back-benchers.  So the situation after the Consis was: 9 from Czechia, 4 from Sweden and the UK, 2 from Finland and Latvia, 1 from Italy, 1 from Lithuania and 1 from Ukraine. Among the eliminated racers we found among others Milos Hojer (CZ), Mangi Prokop (SVK), Vlado Okali (SVK), Kennet Signal (S), Stefan Törnfeldt (S), etc.

SEMIS: DEBÂCLE FOR THE BRITISH RACERS
At the Semis we lost the four British racers, three of them with technical problems (Saunders, Gooding and Parsons, finishing at the three last places of the Semis). Only James Cleave could finish his race, finishing 12th overall, thus not making the move to the Main Final. The same happened with the last survivor among the Italians, Piero 'Il Bandito' Castricone, coming no further than an 18th place. Those disappointing performances prove that the UK and Italy have no longer a major rôle to play in international scale racing. So why continuing an ISRA government by the very conservative Britons? Is it not time that Czechia, Finland and Sweden can govern ISRA?
Effectively, once more only racers from Czechia (5), Sweden (2) and Finland (1) reached the Main Final. Compared to my prognostics only Anders Gustafson (11th) and Einari Fyhr (9th) were not in. Einari missed the move for less than one lap. Podosinoviks (LV) finished 10th as predicted. Only surprises in the main were Petr Krcil (extremely strong at all his races in Lund) and Antónin Vojtik (the #1 candidate to win this year the Mello Yello Juniors World championship).
It's obvious, without a Paul Gawronski (USA), without a Salvatore Noviello (I), without a David Gick (NZ), without a Gustav Heymann (RSA) at the start international scale racing is reduced to a monotonuous play among Czechs, Finns and Swedes. Should someone opens his eyes for the hundreds of G12 scale racers in the world - someone not suffering from the same blindness as Charlie Gooding - scale racing should again be an unpredictable business, not some kind as speciality where before the start 7 out of the 10 first can be predicted. My viewpoint is: let Gooding continue and within 5 years we have ISRA Worlds with 8 Czechs on the 8 first places.

Pos.

Name

Qual.

Quarter

Semi.

Final

1.

Petr Krcil

4.642

286.94

390.87

500.00

2.

Lasse Ĺberg

4.462

290.79

399.09

498.00

3.

Vladimir Horky

4.345

–

380.39

492.00

4.

Antonin Vojtik

4.651

290.54

379.17

487.00

5.

Josef Korec

4.434

–

381.11

483.00

6.

Tomas Rosenberg

4.510

281.07

378.06

476.00

7.

Michael Landrud

4.581

291.87

387.28

414.00

8.

Matti Fyhr

4.499

293.19

383.55

373.00

9.

Einari Fyhr

4.457

–

377.37

–

10.

Andris Podosinoviks

4.636

279.65

376.97

–

11.

Anders Gustafson

4.423

–

375.20

–

12.

James Cleave

4.808

278.06

370.56

–

13.

Martin Hojer

4.700

265.96

370.31

–

14.

Mikael Gustavsson

4.662

269.22

368.39

–

15.

Jiri Karlik

4.818

266.78

362.57

–

16.

Pavel Flaisig

4.643

274.95

356.59

–

17.

Ihor Kuropiy

4.572

265.82

355.58

–

18.

Piero Castricone

4.629

281.17

353.13

–

19.

Aivis Ruks

4.842

270.37

353.06

–

20.

Arunas Leonavicius

4.796

268.04

352.52

–

21.

Miroslav Vadlejch

4.582

274.60

337.34

–

22.

Brian Saunders

4.624

283.19

285.00

–

23.

Charlie Gooding

4.834

268.60

132.00

–

24.

Lee Parsons

4.663

272.28

103.00

–

25.

Paolo Trigilio

4.793

263.73

–

–

26.

Milos Hojer

4.679

262.82

–

–

27.

Sergio Bertocchi

4.976

261.86

–

–

28.

Jan Ekman

4.965

260.27

–

–

29.

Torbjörn Wĺgman

4.856

260.12

–

–

30.

Mikael Palmqvist

4.649

259.91

–

–

31.

Thomas Schüler

5.122

259.25

–

–

32.

Kaiar Tammeleth

5.825

259.08

–

–

33.

Ladislav Koterba jun.

4.918

258.40

–

–

34.

Paolo Niccolai

5.330

257.55

–

–

35.

Mangi Prokop

4.778

257.41

–

–

36.

Vlado Okali

4.821

255.79

–

–

37.

Peteris Taurins

4.660

255.27

–

–

38.

Adam LeMaistre

5.154

254.75

–

–

39.

Claudio Battistini

4.936

254.23

–

–

40.

Simas Nemira

4.714

254.09

–

–

42.

Kennet Signal

5.116

252.14

–

–

44.

Thomas Mortensen

5.070

250.08

–

–

45.

Valentin Iskandarov

4.914

248.82

–

–

46.

Lasse Törn

4.984

248.61

–

–

50.

Janis Rage-Ragis

4.902

242.19

–

–

52.

Graham Woodward

5.308

240.65

–

–

53.

Stefan Törnfeldt

5.126

236.26

–

–

55.

Ugis Viksne

4.893

235.09

–

–

60.

Ralph Parker

5.639

230.62

–

–

63.

Mario Azzopardi

4.951

226.64

–

–

65.

Egil Aksnes

5.236

222.79

–

–

66.

Berra Ljungdahl

5.649

222.37

–

–

70.

Per Persson

5.795

215.80

–

–

73.

Gugu Bernardino

5.014

205.60

–

–

74.

Steve Sargent

5.166

204.71

–

–

77.

Herman James

4.819

192.00

–

–

82.

Martin Borch

5.142

122.00

–

–

83.

Leonida Monti

5.761

87.00

–

–

Immediately after the start of the first segment it became obvious that Michael Landrud should not prologe his world champion's title in Lund. His car missed speed. Setting the pace were Matti Fyhr and Petr Krcil. After the first segment Matti Fyhr had 2 laps over Krcil. Ĺberg, Horky and Rosenberg were already 3 laps down. After a desastrous segment on the outer lane Korec followed already on 8 laps. Landrud was 7th on 5 laps.
During the second segment a brilliant Matti Fyhr increased his advance over all racers except the quadruple scale racing world champion Vladimir Horky.
During the third segment Matti had to go to the slower outer lane, and it could be feared that he should be passed by Horky on the faster lane 5. However that didn't happen. Only Petr Krcil could come back in the same lap. After 3 segments out of 8 standings were: 1. Matti Fyhr (SF) 186 laps, 2. Petr Krcil (CZ) 186 laps, 3. Antónin Vojtik (CZ) 183 laps, 4. Vladimir Horky (CZ) 182 laps, 5. Lasse Ĺberg (S) 182 laps, 6. Tomas Rosenberg (CZ) 180 laps, 7. Josef Korec (CZ) 178 laps, 8. Michael Landrud (S) 173 laps. 
After his convincing victory in 132F1 nobody doubted any longer that Matti Fyhr was the racer to be. However during the fourth segment Matti's car showed the first sign of fatigue. Since the race could be followed on computer thanks to the installed web cam (a good initiative should race director Andy Wasserman had tought on the spectators instead of speaking for his own) one could see Matti in the intersegment from 3-4 lokking at his car with an uneasy face. 
And effectively, on lane 6 Matti lost no less than § laps on both Petr Krcil and Lasse Ĺberg. At mid-race we had a complete new situation: 1. Petr Krcil 250 laps, 2. Lasse Ĺberg 244 laps, 3. Matti Fyhr 244 laps, 4. Vladimir Horky 243 laps, 5. Antónin Vojtik 242 laps, 6. Josef Korec 240 laps, 7. Tomas Rosenberg 238 laps, 8. Michael Landrud 227 laps.
Drama during the fifth segment when Fyhr had to come into the pits. When after this segment Ĺberg was always 5 laps down to Krcil and Horky 9 it became at once obvious that the unexpected Krcil was on his way to victory lane. During the last three segments the double wing car world champion could reduce his arrears by 3 more laps, to die at 2 small laps from the Czech. Horky finished third on 8 laps. Eventually Krcil and Matti Fyhr were the two best racers of the Main, but Petr had a more reliable car than Matti and became the new world champion. [JPVR]

28th EURONATS ES32 - LUND (S) - Aug 11-12

JOSEF KOREC BEATS HIS MASTER

CZECH ARMY SMASHES ALL FIELD FILLERS INTO PIECES

August 12 - In total 77 racers started at the 28th ES32 EuroNats. More than 50 among them were pure field fillers having nothing lost at such race. Among the absentees we noted Paul Gawronski (USA), Dave Gick (NZ), Jaroslav Recek (CZ), Frantisek Poledna (CZ), Mikail Radkovic (CZ), Salvatore Noviello (I), Giovanni Montiglio (I), George Kimber (GB), Greg Gilbert (USA), Paul Harwood (GB), Paul Ciccarello (USA), Philip Helmuth (USA), 'Gugu' Bernardino (BR) - all ranked among the top-30 of scale racers. ES32 is a British invention, extremely expensive, and only left on the calendar thanks to the conservatism of ISRA Chairman Charlie Gooding, who refuses since years to replace that race by PR124 G12 (much more popular among racers than ES32). It may be true that ES32 is a very British invention, but only ONE Britton reached the Semis (with 24 racers). Only Brian Saunders has an excuse: he ran in technical problems. All other British racers, except for James Cleave and Adam LeMaistre, were just too slow. But also the Italians - those other advocates of ES32 racing - were nowhere. Of them only Piero 'Il Ban-dito' Castricone and Paolo Trigilio reached the Semis. But what's wrong with Trigilio, still so convincing at the German Masters in Minden. He promised a total come-back this year after his weak 2003 season, but up to now he was even not the shadow of the excellent scale racer he always was.
At the Qualifications the Czech army let the others the illusion that its racers could be beaten. Einari Fyhr TQ-ed in 5"046, ahead of his younger brother Matti in 5"116. Horky realised only the 11th time in 5"387 and Josef Korec the 14th time in 5"423. However, already at the heats it became obvious that the excellent Czech ES32 cars - just one class better than all other cars, except those of the Fyhr Bros and of Michael Landrud - could go a lot faster. At the heats e.g. Korec made a 5"078 lap, Horky a 5"159. 
At the heats we lost among others America's Herman James, one of the better American scale racers. But also Charlie Gooding (GB), Paolo Niccolai (I), Lee Parsons (GB), Arunas Leonavicius (LT), Ralph Parker (GB), Lasse Törn (S), Vlado Okali (SVK), Claudio Battistini (I), Graham Woodward (GB), Steve Sargent (GB), Stefan Törnfeldt (S), Kennet Signal (S), Egil Aksnes (N), Janne Ekman (S) and the very unlucky Brian Saunders (GB) missed the move to the last 24.
Of the Semi C nobody could make the move to the Main. Winner was Latvia's Rainis Jansons, ahead of Lasse Äberg (S). Here we lost also the two British entrants: Cleave and LeMaistre. In Semi B Vladimir Horky let see that his rather weak performances at the Qualifications and the Heats were just a part of his strategy. He won with 334 laps and made a best lap in 4"881 (even better than TQ). Also Pavel Flaisig (CZ) and Josef Korec (CZ) were fast enough to make the move. For Korec that was no easy task since he lost 8 laps at the second segment and had to fight until the end to let Janis Rage-Ragis (LV) behind. Among the eliminated Trigilio was unbelievable slow, especially during the first segments. Podosinoviks (LTV), Castricone (I) and Anders Gustafson were eliminated too. In Semi A one of the favourites, Matti Fyhr (SF) had back luck, since his car ran in problems during the second segment. Vojtik (CZ) and Prokop (SVK) were also eliminated. Winner here was Horky (CZ) ahead of Landrud (S), Krcil (CZ), Rosenberg (CZ) and Einari Fyhr (SF), all five making the move to the Main.

Pos.

Name

Qual.

Heats

Quarter

Semi.

Final

1.

Josef Korec

5.423

–

247.23

334.94

439.35

2.

Vladimir Horky

5.387

–

246.35

347.68

438.69

3.

Petr Krcil

5.157

–

–

339.95

433.08

4.

Pavel Flaisig

5.187

–

246.62

338.63

432.61

5.

Jiri Karlik

5.379

–

253.33

342.56

428.14

6.

Tomas Rosenberg

5.374

–

254.77

339.84

421.88

7.

Einarii Fyhr

5.067

–

–

335.66

412.04

8.

Michael Landrud

5.158

–

–

341.82

404.55

9.

Janis Rage-Ragis

5.482

–

248.08

333.62

–

10.

Mangi Prokop

5.170

–

249.62

332.35

–

11.

Raivis Jansons

5.431

–

237.65

331.08

–

12.

Andris Podosinoviks

5.365

–

247.41

330.83

–

13.

Lasse Ĺberg

5.609

–

240.38

327.03

–

14.

Piero Castricone

5.439

–

241.69

326.35

–

15.

Antonin Vojtik

5.279

–

249.48

324.73

–

16.

James Cleave

5.740

–

237.12

318.74

–

17.

Adam LeMaistre

5.981

–

232.47

317.90

–

18.

Mikael Gustavsson

5.490

–

239.93

314.76

–

19.

Martin Hojer

5.470

–

240.10

314.25

–

20.

Paolo Trigilio

5.397

–

248.57

314.04

–

21.

Torbjörn Wĺgman

5.817

–

234.88

311.75

–

22.

Anders Gustafson

5.537

–

245.94

268.00

–

23.

Matti Fyhr

5.116

–

–

253.51

–

24.

Nicoli Davide

5.430

–

237.57

103.00

–

25.

Herman James

5.453

–

230.21

–

–

26.

Charlie Gooding

5.762

–

229.03

–

–

27.

Margus Jőgilaine

5.724

–

228.66

–

–

28.

Martin Borch

5.987

–

227.28

–

–

29.

Paolo Niccolai

5.647

–

226.55

–

–

30.

Lee Parsons

5.790

–

225.63

–

–

31.

Ugis Viksne

5.898

–

223.23

–

–

32.

Simas Nemira

5.889

–

223.19

–

–

33.

Milos Hojer

5.696

–

222.84

–

–

34.

Sandis Spricis

6.034

–

222.84

–

–

35.

Miroslav Vadlejch

5.655

–

219.20

–

–

36.

Harri Nykänen

5.875

–

219.19

–

–

37.

Thomas Mortensen

6.233

–

216.89

–

–

38.

Per Sřndergaard

6.143

–

216.31

–

–

39.

Kaiar Tammeleth

5.926

–

215.25

–

–

40.

Sergio Bertocchi

5.845

–

215.10

–

–

42.

Arunas Leonavicius

6.087

–

214.87

–

–

43.

Ralph Parker

6.523

–

212.82

–

–

44.

Lasse Törn

6.416

–

211.77

–

–

45.

Aivis Ruks

5.692

–

211.56

–

–

47.

Vlado Okali

5.706

–

211.24

–

–

50.

Claudio Battistini

5.868

–

206.85

–

–

52.

Valentin Iskandarov

6.235

–

205.62

–

–

53.

Graham Woodward

5.899

–

205.24

–

–

54.

Steve Sargent

5.926

–

204.30

–

–

55.

Mario Azzopardi

6.595

–

203.93

–

–

59.

Stefan Törnfeldt

6.048

–

200.04

–

–

61.

Kennet Signal

6.635

–

198.69

–

–

66.

Heiko Tamme

6.061

–

191.68

–

–

70.

Egil Aksnes

6.651

–

174.75

–

–

71.

Jan Ekman

6.011

–

171.00

–

–

74.

Brian Saunders

5.549

–

117.00

–

–

76.

Einar Viira

5.683

–

77.00

–

–

77.

Mikael Palmqvist

5.497

–

9.00

–

–

So we had a Main Final with no less than 6 Czech racers plus Michael Landrud (S) and Einari Fyhr (SF). At the first segments Pavel Flaisig was causing a stir, since he was setting the pace. After 2 segments we noted 1. Flaisig 111 laps, 2. Landrud 109, 3. Fyhr 106, 4. Korec 106, 5. Horky 105. During the third segment local Michael Landrud could pass Flaisig to take the lead. Situation was now 1. Landrud 164, 2. Flaisig 163, 3. Fyhr 161, 4. Horky 161, 5. Korec 160, 6. Krcil 159, 7. Karlik 159, 8. Rosenberg 156. Double drama during the fourth segment since both Einari Fyhr (loosing 9 laps) as Landrud (loosing 16 laps) had to come into the pits. With Flaisig loosing several laps on lane 8 we had at once two new leaders: Horky & Korec, followed at 3 laps by Krcil, at 5 by Karlik & Flaisig. With Rosenberg as 6th we had the 6 Czech racers at mid-race at the 6 first places. During the 5th segment Horky can catch the lead, followed in the same lap by Krcil and at 1 lap by Korec. Flaisig is 4 laps down, Karlik 5, Rosenberg 8, Fyhr 11, Landrud 15.  During the 6th segment Korec takes the lead with Horky & Krcil 2 laps down. Struggle for victory is restricted to these 3 racers. Landrud looses again 15 laps in the pits. During the 7th segment Korec can increase his advance over Korec to 3 laps. Krcil is passed by Flaisig coming in the same lap as Horky. During a breath-taking last segment Horky comes bit by bit closer to Horky, coming eventually in the same lap. But Korec resists his learn-master until the finish, winning his second consecutive EuroNats. Krcil succeeded to pass Flaisig to take the third place, 6 laps down to winner Korec. Then followed Flaisig, Karlik and Rosenberg, with 6 Czech racers at the 6 first places. [JPVR]

13th ISRA F1 CHAMPIONSHIP - LUND (S) - Aug 10-11

MATTI FYHR BEATS EINARI FYHR

BRITISH F1 SPECIALISTS (SIC) NOWHERE JUST AS ITALIANS

August 12 - During the 1980s and early 1990s 132F1 racing was mainly restricted to racers from the UK, Italy, RSA, New Zealand, France and Spain. It was no international class, and that was the reason that the ISRA F1 Races were not considered as an IOC event. But during the second half of the 1990s racers from Czechia, Scandinavia, the Baltic States and even Russia were trying 132F1. That let us decide an upgrading of the ISRA F1 races up from 1997. Unfortunately we couldn't find the resultys of 1998 (Riga) and 1999 (Toronto). If some racers should have the top-8 results, please mail them to jppro@pandora.be so that we can complete the IOC-list.
In Lund - where the online info is excellent and where the organisation seems as perfect as at Helsinky 2000 - 68 racers entered the F1 race. At the heats we lost Mangi Prokop (SVK), Graham Woodward (GB), Adam LeMaistre (GB), Steve Sergent (GB), Ralph Parker (GB), Vlado Okali (SVK), Stefan Törnfeldt (S), "Gugu" Bernardino (BR), Einar Viira (EE) and Kennet Signal (S). So we went to the 3 Semis with 24 racers, among them the Czechs Vladimir Horky, Josef Korec, Petr Krcil, Jiri Karlik, Tomas Rosenberg, Pavel Flaisig, Miroslav Vadlejch and Antónin Vojtik (8 in total). Sweden, nearly new in 132F1 had Michel Landrud (2003 winner), Lasse Äberg, Anders Gustafson, Janne Ekman, Torbjörn Wägman, Michael Gustavvson, Michael Landrud (6 in total). The UK has Charlie Gooding, Brian Saunders and James Cleave (3 in total). Italy has Paolo Trigilio, Piero 'Il Bandito' Castricone and Paolo Niccolai (3 in total). Finland has the Fyhr Bros having realised the two fastest times at the Qualifications. The 2 remaining places are for Herman James (USA) and Janis Rage-Ragis (LV).
Nobody of Semi C succeeded to make the move. Karlik, Gooding, Wägman, Ekman, Niccolai, Vadlejch, Gustavvson, Flaisig all out. In Semi B only Cleave, Gustafson and Krcil can make the move. Rosenberg, Rage-Ragis, Horky (!!! finalist the 4 previus years), Castricone and Saunders are out (the two last with tech bothers). In Semi A Trigilio falls out after 81 laps. Korec has an impossible car and is out with James. Matti Fyhr, Äberg, Vojtik, Einari Fyhr and Landrud make the move. Rarely a Main final was dominated as did Matti Fyhr. He won ahead of Einari Fyhr and Michael Landrud. The lonely F1 Britton was ...8th.[JPVR]

Pos.

Name

Qual.

Quarter

Semi.

Final

1.

Matti Fyhr

5.862

–

308.79

382.63

2.

Einari Fyhr

5.864

–

294.29

378.11

3.

Michael Landrud

5.915

–

296.21

378.10

4.

Petr Krcil

6.279

210.36

288.17

373.58

5.

Lasse Ĺberg

6.098

220.10

298.43

372.95

6.

Antonin Vojtik

6.064

217.08

287.37

361.93

7.

Anders Gustafson

6.021

216.12

290.09

358.01

8.

James Cleave

6.295

214.62

292.96

356.17

9.

Tomas Rosenberg

6.439

215.98

286.57

 –

10.

Jiri Karlik

6.236

208.63

283.04

 –

11.

Herman James

6.146

217.84

281.47

 –

12.

Charlie Gooding

6.339

202.84

279.87

 –

13.

Janis Rage-Ragis

6.184

212.67

278.85

 –

14.

Vladimir Horky

5.994

216.61

278.69

 –

15.

Torbjörn Wĺgman

6.167

206.69

273.62

 –

16.

Jan Ekman

6.338

206.21

272.29

 –

17.

Josef Korec

5.913

–

269.33

 –

18.

Paolo Niccolai

6.306

207.05

268.03

 –

19.

Miroslav Vadlejch

6.315

203.21

267.18

 –

20.

Pavel Flaisig

6.315

207.04

255.64

 –

21.

Mikael Gustavsson

6.243

210.31

247.64

 –

22.

Piero Castricone

5.943

213.45

139.00

 –

23.

Paolo Trigilio

6.063

217.67

81.00

 –

24.

Brian Saunders

6.334

213.61

72.00

 –

25.

Thomas Mortensen

6.147

202.64

–

–

26.

Mangi Prokop

6.231

202.58

–

–

27.

Martin Borch

6.853

202.29

–

–

28.

Graham Woodward

6.439

202.04

–

–

29.

Adam LeMaistre

6.797

202.02

–

–

30.

Raivis Jansons

6.452

201.18

–

–

31.

Mario Azzopardi

6.530

195.62

–

–

32.

Andris Podosinoviks

6.036

195.59

–

–

33.

Vlado Okali

6.473

195.38

–

–

34.

Steve Sargent

6.491

194.91

–

–

35.

Joosep Kink

6.626

191.91

–

–

36.

Davide Nicoli

6.479

190.96

–

–

37.

Peteris Taurins

6.265

190.60

–

–

38.

Milos Hojer

6.469

190.28

–

–

39.

Sandris Spricis

6.425

189.18

–

–

40.

Kent Lundström

6.657

188.75

–

–

42.

Lasse Törn

6.711

187.79

–

–

47.

Stefan Törnfeldt

6.445

185.33

–

–

48.

Gugu Bernardino

6.998

183.68

–

–

49.

Lee Parsons

6.342

182.14

–

–

53.

Arunas Leonavicius

7.012

177.24

–

–

54.

Leonida Monti

6.847

176.07

–

–

60.

Einar Viira

6.992

168.65

–

–

65.

Ralph Parker

9.458

154.20

–

–

66.

Jonny Johansson

7.080

142.70

–

–

68.

Kennet Signal

6.763

22.00

–

–

1997 Southampton

2000 Helsinki (SF)

2001 Ribera (I)

2002 San Francisco (USA)

2003 Brno (CZ)
1. Paul Gawronski (USA) 1. Vladimir Horky (CZ) 1. Vladimir Horky (CZ) 1. Einari Fyhr (SF) 1. Michael Landrud (S)
2. James Cleave (GB) 2. Josef Korec (CZ) 2. Paolo Trigilio (I) 2. Paul Gawronski (USA) 2. Matti Fyhr (SF)
3. Jaroslaw Recek (CZ) 3. Paolo Trigilio (I) 3. Lucas Folk (CZ) 3. Josef Korec (CZ) 3. Paolo Trigilio (I)
4. Salvatore Noviello (I) 4. Lucas Folk (CZ) 4. Piero Castricone (I) 4. Vladimir Horky (CZ) 4. Einari Fyhr (SF)
5. Tracy Chin (USA) 5. Paul Harwood (GB) 5. Jozef Lapcak (SVK) 5. Dave Gick (NZ) 5. Vladimir Horky (CZ)
6. Ernie Mosetti (CDN) 6. Frankie Poledna (CZ) 6. Roberto Rotoni (I) 6. Jiri Karlik (CZ) 6. Jiri Karlik (CZ)
7. Mike "Tomato" (USA) 7. Petr Krcil (CZ) 7. Paolo Niccolai (I) 7. Greg Gilbert (USA) 7. Herman James (USA)
8. Daniele Tampellini (I) 8. Paolo Niccolai (I) 8. Matti Fyhr (SF) 8. Brian Saunders (GB) 8. Frankie Poledna (CZ)
   

13th SCALE PRODUCTION 124 WORLD CUP - LUND (S) - Aug 7-9

FYHR BROS (SF) WIN JUST AS IN 2000

Pictures first row courtesy to Carsten Grřnnemann


At the ISRA Worlds in Sweden's Lund the results of the team race were predictable, as I wrote earlier. The race ended as in 2000 with Einari Fyhr/Matti Fyhr (SF) winning their second world cup ahead of the three times winners Josef Korec/Vladimir Horky (CZ) and Janis Rage-Ragis/Andris Podosinoviks (LV). In 2000 the Latvian team finished second and the Czech team third. In a field fillers competition where more than 80 % of the entrants are not at their place Michael Landrud/Janne Ekman (S) finished fourth. A second Czech duo Thomas Rosenberg/Pavel Flaisig - having finished fourth last year was now fifth. There were nearly no surprises except for the fine sixth place of Mikael Gustavsson/ Torbjörn Wägman (S) and the ninth place of Peter Rousing/Steen Michaelsen.  The Italian and British teams disappointed. Castricone/Santarelli came not further than 11th, Bertocchi/Bat-tistini not further than 19th and Italy's top team Trigilio/Niccolai was only 28th. The British top team Gooding/Cleave finished even one place deeper (29th). But also Saunders/Parsons performed far under their intrinsic value (16th). Also disappointing was the performance of "Gugu" Bernardino and Lasse Äberg (BR/S) finishing 15th. There were 52 teams (104 racers) at the start. Fine performances were noted by Borch/Söndergard (13th) and Milos Hojer/Martin Hojer (8th). Jiri Karlik/Petr Krcil, now finishing 7th were expected finishing some places higher, just as Törnfeldt/Gustafson (10th). [JPVR]
COMPLETE RESULTS
Pos

Team

Qual.

Heats

Total

1

Einari Fyhr-Matti Fyhr

9,73

580,13

589,86

2

Vladimir Horky -Josef Korec

9,29

564,85

574,14

3

Janis Rage Ragis-Andris Podosinoviks

8,98

562,87

571,85

4

Michael Landrud-Jan Ekman

9,51

557,05

566,56

5

Tomas Rosenberg-Pavel Flaisig

9,20

552,41

561,61

6

Mikael Gustavsson-Torbjörn Wĺgman

9,11

549,56

558,67

7

Jiri Karlik-Petr Krcil

9,23

542,66

551,89

8

Milos Hojer-Martin Hojer

8,70

535,22

543,92

9

Peter Rousing-Steen Michaelsen

9,09

532,67

541,76

10

Stefan Törnfeldt-Anders Gustafson

8,28

531,56

539,84

11

Piero Castricone-Guido Santarelli

9,09

527,32

536,41

12

Vlado Okali-Miroslav Vadlejch

8,34

526,10

534,44

13

Martin Borch-Per Söndergaard

8,65

524,07

532,72

14

Sandis Spricis-Agris Kirsteins

7,83

524,86

532,69

15

Gugu Bernardino-Lasse Ĺberg

9,12

519,56

528,68

16

Brian Saunders-Lee Parsons

7,23

517,27

524,50

17

Antonin Vojtik-Mangi Prokop

8,59

514,77

523,36

18

Ugis Viksne-Raivis Jansons

9,25

512,27

521,52

19

Sergio Bertocchi-Claudio Battistini

8,31

510,82

519,13

20

Einar Viira-Joosep Kink

8,33

510,24

518,57

21

Mikael Palmqvist-Mikael Svensson

8,37

504,57

512,94

22

Harri Nykänen-Leo Pekkanen

8,34

503,92

512,26

23

Kent Lundström-Lasse Törn

8,59

499,53

508,12

24

Kaiar Tammeleht-Margus Jögilaine

8,82

502,85

506,67

25

Simas Nimira-Arunas Leonavicius

7,73

498,92

506,65

26

Aivis Ruks-Peteris Taurins

8,70

497,82

506,52

27

Thorkild Hjort-Peder Pedersen

7,34

492,32

499,66

28

Paolo Trigilio-Paolo Niccolai

9,00

489,00

498,00

29

Charlie Gooding-James Cleave

8,95

488,58

497,53

30

Carsten Grönneman-Erik Noltensmeijer

8,09

488,81

496,90

31

Mario Azzopardi-Adam LeMaistre

7,80

486,57

494,37

32

Thomas Mortensen-Sune Andersen

8,18

484,80

492,98

33

Mats Andersson-Thomas Schuler

8,74

482,94

491,68

34

Dan Gustafsson-Marcus Andersson

8,18

476,09

484,27

35

Ihor Kuropiy-Valentin Iskandarov

8,12

475,94

484,06

36

Mia Ekman-Sandra Karlikova

8,40

472,65

481,05

37

Ladislav Koterba jr-Ladislav Koterba sr

7,72

464,98

472,70

38

Graham Woodward-Ben Woodward

8,39

462,23

470,62

39

Davide Nicoli-Leonida Monti

9,13

460,19

469,32

40

Björn Rydin-Wictor Wideheim

7,96

459,53

467,49

41

Steve Sargent-Ralph Parker

8,22

450,82

459,04

42

Berra Ljungdahl-Evelina Axelsson

6,91

450,79

457,70

43

Herman James-Lars Harrysson

8,85

448,00

456,85

44

Peter Broe-Jan Juul

0

451,50

451,50

45

Kaiar Tamme-Heiko Tamme

6,94

443,10

450,04

46

Ilmar Viira-Karl Keldrima

7,63

440,80

448,43

47

Sampsa Salonen-Juha Alavainio

6,25

413,29

419,54

48

Lars Pettersson-Kennet Signal

8,27

368,69

376,96

49

Martin Nilsson-Christer Nilsson

6,32

369,50

375,82

50

Per Kristiansen-Vest Jörgensen

7,93

345,24

353,17

51

Eric Signal-Jonny Johansson

7,89

345,22

353,11

52

Torgeir Boe-Egil Aksnes

6,88

334,76

341,64

11th ISRA BSCRA 124 NATS - LEICESTER (GB) - July 3-4

BRIAN SAUNDERS & BRIAN GALPIN WINNERS

Paul Shepherd and Graeme Stephenson cause a stir

July 9 - At Leicester (GB) the 11th BSCRA 124 Nats were contested on the beautiful new UK 8 track. As one knows two of the three races - G12 and ES24 - are considered as IOC events. This was done years ago in order to award the British efforts for slot-racing. Indeed, during years, only the British G7 racers were travelling around the world. Of the scale racers only Ian Jensen, Steve Walker, Dave Harvey & Cie were seen at international races. Things changed in 1985 when IMCA organised the first sponsored international races. Then Paul Lyon, Mark Harrison, Chris James, Tim Ryan, etc. came in the international picture. In 1989 IMCA stopped the organisation of Scale Racing Worlds and we had to wait ISRA taking over the job. So up from 1993 British scale racers came regularly to international races. Meantime they were very deep in the IOC-list, i.e. the all-time ranking of slot-racers. The absence on the international scene during a quart-century made that nearly no British racers were found in the top-100. Then it was decided that the new BSCRA 124 Nats - initially an international event where among others Paolo Trigilio was one of the winners - were upgraded to an IOC-event, at least for ES24 and 124 G12. Consequence was that the British top-3 - Charlie Gooding, Brian Saunders and George Kimber - were found in the top-100 of the IOC-list. Sure, we were far behind the early 1970s where Dave Harvey and Adrian Gay were ranked among the top-30 of the world. But year after year the British scale racers improved their positions, long after Harvey and Gay were out of the top-30.

At Leicester the Production Race - no IOC event - was won by Lee Parsons, ahead of the astonishing Paul Shepherd and Brian Saunders. Since the BSCRA is one of the rounds for the 124 BOC, Lee Parsons ensured with this victory his first place in the 124 BOC ranking. With one event to go he can no longer be passed by someone else.
Open G12 was won by Brian Saunders ahead of Charlie Gooding, Paul Shepherd (!), Lee Parsons and last year's winner George Kimber. By finishing sixth youngster Graeme Stephenson confirmed that he's one of the contenders to win this year the Mello Yello Junior World Championship. Indeed, now that John Brown and Andrew Aynsley had to withdraw for study reasons, Stephenson seems to be a very valuable substitute.
Main event was the Eurosport Race. Winner here was Brian Galpin (only since last year in the IOC-list). By winning that race (and having finished eighth in the G12 race) he adds 21 points to his earlier total of 15 IOC-points. In the IOC-list he moves to rank 152 (on 762 ranked racers). In the IOC-ranking for scale racers he's alreadu 45th on 300 ranked racers. By finishing again as runner-up, just as in G12, Charlie Gooding added 22.5 new IOC-points to his total. He collected now 172.5 IOC-points, being 9th best all-time scale racer. In the combined IOC-list for wing car, scale car and model car racers, Gooding is now 32nd.
Production Open Group 12 Eurosport

Brian Saunders, having finished fifth in the ES24 race, collects 6 IOC-points for that performance plus 10 points for his win in Open G12. Those 16 new IOC-points make him moving to rank 27 in the combined all-time IOC-list with 188 points. That implies that for the first time since 1972 we find a British racer so well-placed. In the separate IOC-list for scale racers, Saunders is now the 7th best scale racer of the world, only headed by Vladimir Horky (CZ), Paolo Trigilio (I), Josef Korec (CZ), Einari Fyhr (SF), Paul Gawronski (USA) and Dave Gick (NZ). A good performance at the upcoming ISRA Worlds can permit Saunders to enter the top-5 of the world, better than any Britton did earlier (in 1972 Dave Harvey was 6th of the world).
Good old George Kimber - who finished fourth in ES24 after a fifth place in G12 - added 12 new IOC-points to his total. He's now 17th best scale racer of the world and is found on rank 41 in the combined all-time IOC-list. Kimber is the lonely British racer to have won an official world championship. Indeed, in 2003 he won the Modeller's World Championship, ahead of Slovakia's Jozef Miskolci.
At the upcoming ISRA Worlds in Lund British racers will be present with Saunders, Gooding, Graham Woodward, Sargent, Parker, Ben Woodward, Paul Harwood, James Cleave (absent in Leicester?), Lee Parsons and Adam Lemaistre. Only George Kimber, Geoff Mitchell, Brian Galpin and Keith Gibson will be absent among the British top-guns. [JPVR]

1 Lee Parsons 1 Brian Saunders 1 Brian Galpin
2 Paul Shepherd 2 Charlie Gooding 2 Charlie Gooding
3 Brian Saunders 3 Paul Shepherd 3 Paul Shepherd
4 Steve Sargent 4 Lee Parsons 4 George Kimber
5 Grah Woodward 5 George Kimber 5 Brian Saunders
6 Brian Galpin 6 Graeme Stephenson 6 Keith Gibson
7 Keith Gibson 7 Pat Skene 7 Grah Woodward
8 Dave Mayo 8 Brian Galpin 8 Dave Mayo
9 Graeme Stephenson 9 Will Stemman 9 Alan Callaghan
10 John Hyde 10 Keith Gibson 10 Mario Azzopardi
11 Alan Callaghan 11 Martin Ellis 11 Steve Sargent
12 Martin Ellis 12 Alan Callaghan 12 Martin Ellis
13 Chris Frost 13 Mario Azzopardi 13 Will Stemman
14 Charlie Gooding 14 Graham Woodward 14 John Wells
15 Dave Austin 15 Lars Noerkjaer 15 Graem Stephenson
16 Mick Tompson 16 Mike Harrison 16 Dave Coward

1st ISRA WORLDS WARM-UP RACES - HJÄRUP (S) - May 21-22

WHO CAN BEAT MICHAEL LANDRUD IN LUND?

Einari Fyhr, Podosinoviks & Ĺberg perform very well

July 8 - The Warm-Up Race in view of the ISRA Worlds in Lund has immediately be upgraded to an IOC-event. Contested on May 21-22 we only discovered now that it was a great scale racing event over 4 races: ES24, ES32, 132F1 and 124PR. Defending Scale Racing World Champion Michael Landrud (S) gave full evidence that on the holy home ground he will hardly be to beat. He won three of the four races and finished as runner-up to Einari Fyhr (SF) in the ES32 race. Fine performances were noted by Latvia's Andris Podosinoviks who finished second in three races - having not entered the ES32 race. Lasse Ĺberg (S) - who never before collected IOC-points in scale racing - caused a stir by finishing twice third, once fourth and once fifth.
With 36 entrants from such different countries as Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, and Czechia the first ISRA Warm-Up Race in history was a great show. Absent were Josef Korec (CZ, broken leg), Vladimir Horky (CZ), Paolo Trigilio (I), Brian Saunders (GB), Charlie Gooding (GB), James Cleave (GB), Paul Gawronski (USA), Philip Helmuth (USA), Greg Gilbert (USA), Dave Gick (NZ), Frantisek Poledna (CZ), Mikail Radkovic (CZ), Salvatore Noviello (I), Tracy Chin (USA), Gustav Heymann (RSA), Chris Radisich (NZ), etc. The last ten named will be also absent at the Lund ISRA Worlds, where 126 different entrants are announced - however only two coming outside Europe (Herman James, USA, and 'Gugu' Bernardino, BR).

The track

If we apply the 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points rule on the four races, one can make combined standings. Here Michael Landrud is the winner with 38 points. Tied up on second place are Einari Fyhr (SF) and Andris Podosinoviks (LTV). Since a second place in an IOC-event is always good for 15 IOC-points, that implies that for the real first time in history, Janis Rage-Ragis - the godfather of all Baltic Racing - is no longer the best Baltic racer. Indeed, by finishing seventh in the combined standings Rage-Ragis won only 2 IOC-points. In the all-time ranking Podosinoviks has now a total of 86,5 points against 86 points for Rage-Ragis. The IOC-table has been updated.

Lasse Ĺberg gave full evidence that he's an all-rounder. By finishing fourth in the combined ranking he won his first IOC-points in scale racing, 9 pts. Earlier he collected a mass of IOC-points in wing car racing and a good bit in scale racing. From the Swedes only Landrud and Ĺberg seem ready for the worlds. Biggest deception of the ISRA Warm-Up Race went to Janne Ekman. Normally he's always the direct opponent of Michael Landrud in Swedish scale races. Now he finished not once in the top-8, with a ninth and tenth place as bests. Anders Gustafson and Stefan Törnfeldt were the two best known Swedes missing on the entry list. [JPVR]

PRODUCTION 124

ES24

1.

Michael Landrud

220.43

5.980

 1. Michael Landrud 267.35 4.668

2.

A Podosinoviks

217.86

6.029

 2. A.Podosinoviks 266.27 4.864

3.

Einari Fyhr

214.00

6.208

 3. Matti Fyhr 259.87 4.625

4.

Lasse Ĺberg

207.73

6.132

 4. Einari Fyhr 253.59 4.850

5.

Raivis Jansons

204.55

6.037

5.

 Lasse Ĺberg 251.24 5.000

6.

Ugis Viksne

203.27

6.111

6.

Ugis Viksne

235.94

5.163

7.

J. Rage Ragis

202.00

6.044

7.

Leo Pekkanen

231.81

5.351

8.

Jirka Karlik

197.28

6.354

8.

Pavel Flaisig

227.70

5.292

9.

Matti Fyhr

196.00

6.025

9.

Thomas Mortensen

226.59

3.839

10.

Jan Ekman

195.00

6.267

10.

MikaelGustavsson

221.41

5.132

11.

Lars Harrysson

195.23

6.450

11.

Kennet Signal

217.78

5.584

12.

Th. Mortensen

194.59

6.344

12.

Steen Michaelsen

214.83

5.494

13.

Martin Borch

193.64

6.563

13.

Simo Kairistola

214.60

4.945

14.

Kennet Signal

193.09

6.672

14.

Peter Rousing

213.70

5.770

15.

Simo Kairistola

191.96

6.530

15.

Milos Hojer

213.37

5.333

16.

Peter Rousing

187.11

6.655

16.

Janis Rage Ragis

212.94

4.758

17.

Pavel Flaisig

186.91

6.608

17.

Torbjörn Wĺgman

211.35

5.447

18.

Leo Pekkanen

182.11

7.068

18.

Jan Ekman

207.12

5.162

19.

Milos Hojer

181.44

6.737

19.

Berra Ljungdahl

207.04

5.274

20.

C. Gronneman

181.10

6.626

20.

Wictor Wideheim

204.65

5.676

21.

St. Michaelsen

180.85

6.581

21.

Mikael Svensson

200.34

5.697

22.

M. Svensson

179.15

6.746

22.

Martin Hojer

199.10

5.375

23.

S. Karlikova

177.85

7.092

23.

Kent Lundström

192.43

6.013

24.

Lars Pettersson

177.63

6.965

24.

Mia Ekman

191.42

5.663

25.

Berra Ljungdahl

177.27

6.985

25.

Lars Pettersson

190.10

6.077

26.

E. Noltensmejer

173.00

6.736

26.

Björn Rydin

180.78

5.368

27.

Torb. Wĺgman

169.00

6.592

27.

Janne Andersson

171.42

6.276

28.

Dan Gustafsson

169.10

7.452

28.

Jirka Karlik

142.57

5.140

29.

Martin Hojer

168.73

6.617

29.

Raivis Jansons

134.00

4.861

30.

M. Gustavsson

168.37

6.229

30.

Martin Borch

129.00

5.300

31.

Eric Signal

167.29

7.264

  

32.

Mia Ekman

163.17

6.948

33.

Björn Rydin

157.41

7.204

34.

J. Andersson

152.33

7.530

35.

Glenn Strid

151.00

7.378

36.

W. Wideheim

143.28

6.844

132 F1

ES32

1.

Michael Landrud

199.58

6.106

1.

Einari Fyhr

243.33

5.309

2.

A. Podosinoviks

195.85

6.443

2.

Michael Landrud

240.28

5.361

3.

Lasse Ĺberg

195.27

6.644

3.

Lasse Ĺberg

239.39

5.427

4.

J. Rage Ragis

193.10

6.634

4.

Pavel Flaisig

237.77

5.229

5.

Matti Fyhr

189.77

6.148

5.

Jirka Karlik

230.66

5.356

6.

Einari Fyhr

189.65

6.892

6.

Milos Hojer

211.24

5.728

7.

Ugis Viksne

186.68

6.585

7.

Simo Kairistola

208.81

5.494

8.

Martin Borch

186.32

6.836

8.

Torbj. Wĺgman

204.84

6.067

9.

M. Gustavsson

181.00

6.781

9.

Jan Ekman

204.45

5.524

10.

Pavel Flaisig

180.62

6.764

10.

Martin Hojer

204.13

5.684

11.

Jan Ekman

176.68

6.755

11.

M. Gustavsson

195.38

6.220

12.

Torb. Wĺgman

176.05

6.763

12.

Berra Ljungdahl

193.34

6.063

13.

Milos Hojer

170.70

6.942

13.

Lars Harrysson

190.13

6.155

14.

Th. Mortensen

170.08

6.999

14.

Kennet Signal

188.28

6.735

15.

Kennet Signal

169.92

7.374

15.

Eric Signal

181.00

6.551

16.

Leo Pekkanen

169.14

7.225

16.

Janne Andersson

170.80

6.488

17.

Kent Lundström

159.00

7.354

17.

Lars Pettersson

150.55

6.518

18.

Lars Pettersson

157.08

7.570
COMBINED RESULTS 4 RACES

1.

 Michael LANDRUD S 38 pts

2.

 Einari Fyhr SF 24 pts

19.

Lars Harrysson

156.87

6.688

20.

Eric Signal

156.37

7.475

21.

Berra Ljungdahl

151.90

7.771

22.

Jirka Karlik

145.09

6.708

23.

Martin Hojer

143.39

6.735

24.

Björn Rydin

134.81

7.589

25.

Raivis Jansons

129.00

6.841
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
2. A. Podosinoviks LTV 24 pts

4.

 Lasse Ĺberg S 21 pts

5.

 Matti Fyhr SF 10 pts

6.

 Uge Viksne LTV 8 pts

7.

 J. Rage-Ragis LTV 7 pts

8.

 Pavel Flaisig CZ 6 pts

9.

 Jiri Karlik CZ 5 pts

10.

 Raivis Jansons LTV 4 pts

11.

 Milos Hojer CZ 3 pts

12.

 Leo Pekkanen SF 2 pts

13.

 Simo Kairistola SF 2 pts

14.

 Martin Borch DK 1 pt

15.

 Torbj Wägeman S 1 pt

4th GERMAN MASTERS ES24 - MINDEN (D) - June 6

SUPER PAOLO TRIGILIO CONFIRMS

Complete Results received 5 days after the race

June 10 - At the German Masters Italy's Paolo Trigilio confirmed that he'll be the man to beat at the upcoming ISRA Worlds. He won not only the X12 Race but also the Eurosport 24 race. Czechia's Petr Krcil finished as runner-up and Italy's Claudio Battistini was third. There were 34 entrants, but no Brian Saunders, no Frantisek Poledna, no Mikail Radkovic. Since Sunday evening we tried to obtain complete results. But Gerald Barg and Helmut Paulus, the organisers, didn't answer our three mails to send us complete results. I feel that it is a lack of respect versus the racers, to wait several days before publishing complete results. Eventually good old Marc Joyeux of the FFSR could send us the top-8 results. Joyeux himself, racing a Radkovic 2003 chassis, finished 30th at the X12 Race. He too is convinced that the rather poor attendance - much lower than last year - is due to the changed date of the German Masters.

1. Paolo Trigilio (I)

Earlier this year a warm-up race was contested at the Minden Blue King. Also of that race - no IOC event - we could obtain not the smallest results. Such behaviour is an international event unworthy. We can only hope that this will no more happen in the future. [JPVR]
2. Petr Krcil (CZ)
3. Claudio Battistini (I)
4. Vlado Okali (SVK)
5. Andrea Valle (I)
6. Jiri Micek jr (CZ)
7. Jiri Micek sr (CZ)
8. Ernie Mosetti (CDN)
RESULTS X12 RACE RESULTS ES24 RACE
1 Paolo Trigilio I 400,19 1 Paolo Trigilio I 436,01
2 Jiri Micek jr CZ 382,92 2 Petr Krcil CZ 423,88
3 Andrea Valle I 373,88 3 Claudio Battistini I 422,14
4 Vlado Okali SVK 367,83 4 Vlado Okali SVK 421,68
5 Jiri Micek sr CZ 365,28 5 Andrea Valle I 419,14
6 Burhard Werner D 364,20 6 Jiri Micek jr CZ 414,93
7 Heiko Thinschmidt D 351,37 7 Jiri Micek sr CZ 406,95
8 Per Cristensen DK 165,00 8 Ernie Mosetti CDN 404,00
9 Rudi Kamieth D 273,84 9 Martin Borch DK 304,12
10 Petr Krcil CZ 271,31 10 Michael Drosba D 296,21
11 Roland Brehmer D 271,11 11 Theo Vanginderhuisen B 290,79
12 Claudio Battistini I 269,71 12 Roland Brehmer D 289,32
13 Hans-Peter Hofmann D 268,93 13 Thomas Mortensen DK 282,93
14 David Bradburn GB 266,27 14 Sergio Bertocchi I 280,85
15 Valentin Woutisseth F 264,69 15 Per Soendergaard DK 279,09
16 Theo Vanginderhuisen B 262,60 16 Burkhard Werner D 274,34
17 Raymond Kühn B 260,86 17 Heiko Thinschmidt D 274,32
18 Ingo Pensel D 260,36 18 David Lees GB 274,04
19 Klaus Jungblut D 256,85 19 Kamil Klapka CZ 273,64
20 Sergio Bertocchi I 255,06 20 Fritz Kopriwa CH 267,08
21 Kamil Klapka CZ 251,73 21 Pascal Bauvallet F 265,89
22 Andy Brown-Searle GB 244,93 22 Per Christensen DK 261,86
23 Thomas Mortenson DK 237,71 23 Heini Denter D 247,30
24 Per Soendergaard DK 225,00 24 Rudi Kamieth D 20,00
25 Bernd Müller D 258,25 25 David Bradburn D 265,32
26 Anne Grundel NL 253,23 26 Mark Wattham GB 257,53
27 PK Mayer D 252,30 27 PK Mayer D 255,07
28 Martin Borch DK 251,40 28 Michael Dehm D 231,09
29 Michael Lanig D 248,63 29 Michel Lanig D 188,00
30 Marc Joyeux F 248,17 30 Ingo Pensel D 163,00
31 Günter Zenker D 245,05 31 Andy Brown-Searle GB 144,00
32 Heini Denter D 241,66 32 Raymond Kühn B 139,00
33 Rob Duurland NL 241,27 33 Peter Siebert D 114,00
34 Henrik Burchard D 239,75 34 Klaus Jungblut D 75,00
35 Michael Keller D 239,59 35 Jurgen Krosta D 36,00
36 René Bastiaan NL 237,63

We finally received the complete results of the German Masters. Compared to 2003 attendance was qualitatively lower since several top racers were absent. Among them Mikael Radkovic (CZ), Brian Saunders (GB), Ralph Klose (D), Frantisek Poledna (CZ) and Keith Gibson (GB). There can be little doubt that the poor choice of the date of the race must be held responsible for the absence of several top racers.

37 Andy Ernst D 237,40
38 Fritz Kopriwa CH 236,39
39 Manni Seyfarth D 230,26
40 Pascal Bauvallet F 229,85
41 David Lees GB 208,36
42 Olli Tiemeier D 207,05
43 Milco van den Broek NL 200,20
44 Michael Dehm D 175,00
45 Mark Wattham GB 159,64
46 Peter Siebert D 4,00

4th GERMAN MASTERS X12 - MINDEN (D) - June 5

SUPER PAOLO TRIGILIO BEATS THEM ALL

Saunders, Poledna, Radkovic, Gibson, Klose all absent

June 9 - At the end of last year Paolo Trigilio sent me an e-mail. Unhappy that he was not selected for the IMCA Nats after I wrote that Trigilio was finished as a top-racer, he confirmed me that he should be back in 2004 and that he should prove that he was always one of the best scale racers in the world. In Minden he gave full evidence that he saw it correct. Indeed he won the X12 race no less than 18 laps ahead over Jiri Micek jr who finished second and 27 laps ahead over Andrea Valle who finished third.
Attendance was much lower than expected. Changing the date of the German Masters was not a good thing, because now they organised their race the same day as the Vintage Classics of Bordeaux. With the BSCRA Nats having been contested two weeks earlier the British racers were absent: no Brian Saunders, no Keith Gibson, etc. Even Ralph Klose was not present since he went to Bordeaux. From the Czechs the excellent X12 racer Frantisek Poledna was absent, also Josef Korec and Vladimir Horky who were just back from the Port Jeff World Championship Wing Car Racing.

1. Paolo Trigilio (I) 400 laps

There were 46 entrants, among them Jiri Micek jr (CZ), Jiri Micek sr (CZ), Petr Kricil (CZ), Ernie Mosetti (CDN), Andrea Valle (I), Claudio Battistini (I), Vlado Okali (SVK), Burkhard Werner (D), Heiko Thinschmidt (D), Per Christensen (DK); etc. Only two Germans reached the main final: Burkhard Werner who finished sixth and Heiko Thinschmidt wo finished seventh. The IOC-Ranking after Minden was already updated. Paolo Trigilio is now 9th on the all-time ranking of slot-racers.
2. Jiri Micek jr (CZ) 382 laps
3. Andrea Valle (I) 373 laps
4. Vlado Okali (SVK) 367 laps
5. Jiri Micek sr (CZ) 365 laps
6. Burkhard Werner (D) 364 laps
7. Heiko Thinschmidt (D) 351 laps
8. Per Christensen (DK) 165 laps

USRA DIVISION II NATS - PORTLAND, OREGON - April 13-15

PAUL GAWRONSKI WINS ONCE MORE!!!

But what a progress by Chris Radisich! - Lee Gilbert stolen...

April 19 - Once more America's Paul Gawronski gave full evidence that he, and nobody else, is the best scale racer in the USA. At Raceway USA in Portland (Oregon) he won the two major events (ES24 and ES32). His eternal opponent, Paul Ciccarello, disappointed by winning only(as usual) 4.5" Nascar. He even didn't enter the main event. Here good old Lee Gilbert was stolen. Having TQ-ed in 3"026, ahead of the local star Mike Stahl (3"0318) and Paul Gawronski (3"0421) he seemed on his way to win ES24 when in Semi A his car was put in the wrong lane at the start of the third segment so that it broke. ES24 was a very tumultuous race due to the fact that the lap counter failed and that human counting was necessary. It was object of strong controversies, among others from Herman James, who refused to accept the manual counting. The race finished at 3 AM and immediately after the results were lost. Mike Stahl finished second to Gawronski, 7 laps down, but 6 ahead of Greg Gilbert who was third.
In total 7 races were scheduled for experts. Attendance was extremely low, a national championship unworthy. We noted only 99 entrants for 7 races, an average of only 14. Several top racers were missing. Among them ex-world champion Philip Helmuth, Tracy Chin, Fred Hood, Paul 'Beuf' Pedersen, Alan Ohren, Lou Pirro, 2002 revelation Tim Wiegand, Ted Essy, etc. Missing too were Matt Zenovitch and Neal Stewart, in former days by Paul Kassens declared to be the best scale racers of the USA. I don't know if they are that good. All I know is that it were the most expensive racers we ever saw at the IMCA Nats, costing us $ 4,000 US and an uncovered bank cheque of $ 1,500 US by their tutor Paul Kassens. Two years later Kassens is always searching how to cover his cheques.
Only one racer made the 7 races: IMCA's president Chris Radisich, finishing in all 7 races among the top-8 with one second place and two third places. There is no doubt that the Kiwi made a tremendous progress since he's living in the US. If one makes a total classification, based on the IOC point's system (20-15-12-9-6-3-2-1) for the top 8, with double points for the ES24 event and points multiplied by 1.5 for ES32 (and with 6 points for TQ in ES24, 4 for TQ in ES32) one has a good idea of the performances of the 30 different entrants at this year's USRA Division II Nats. Then Paul Gawronski is the best with 101 points, followed by Greg Gilbert  (87.5 points and winner of G12), Chris Radisich (65 points), Roy Hood (43.1 points and winner of GTP), Herman James (38 points), Duran Trujilo (35.5 points and winner in G10), Mike Stahl (34 points and runner-up in ES24) and good old Ron Hershman (32 points and winner in GT1). Paul Ciccarello, winner of 4.5" Nascar, failed to finish among the top-8. For the attribution of IOC-points we wish to work with this ranking rather than with the final result of ES24. Herefor we have two good reasons: (1) due to the lap counter failure and the loss of the results the final standings of ES24 are dubious; (2) should we restrict ourselves to ES24 alone, no IOC-points at all could be attributed since even the minimum entry of 24 was not reached. It's noteworth that Paul Gawronski won his fifth USRA Division II Nats (ES24) and the fourth consecutive in a row. This year's edition was sponsored by Parma. One other racer, apart from Paul Ciccarello, disappointed: Roy Bishop, last year the hero of the traditional Seattle Slug Fest. A 5th place in ES24, 7th in ES32 and 18th in G12 (due to a lost magnet) were too poor to convince. Not convincing too was Alicia Gilbert, last year very strong at the Slugfest [JPVR]

Picture courtesy to OWH Kassens
Rnk

Racer

 EXP G10 ES32 EXP GTP EXP GT1 EXP G12 EXP 4.5" Nascar ES24 Pts
-

-

 Apr 13 Apr 13 Apr 13 Apr 14 Apr 15 Apr 15 Apr 15 -
1. Paul Gawronski (4) - 1 (30 pts) +TQ 3 (12 pts) - 2 (15 pts) - 1 (40 pts) 101 pts
2. Greg Gilbert(5) - 2 (22.5 pts) 2 (15 pts) - 1 (20 pts) 5 (6 pts) 3 (24 pts) 87.5 pts
3. Chris Radisich (7) 2 (15 pts) 5 (9 pts) 4 (9 pts) 7 (2 pts) 3 (12 pts) 3 (12 pts) 6 (6 pts) 65 pts
4. Roy Hood (4) - 4 (13.5 pts) 1 (20 pts) - 4 (9 pts) - 13 (0.6 pts) 43.1 pts
5. Herman James (3) - 3 (18 pts) - - 7 (2 pts) - 4 (18 pts) 38 pts
6. Duran Trujillo (3) 1 (20 pts) - - 11 (0.5 pts) - 2 (15 pts) - 35.5 pts
7. Mike Stahl (3) - - 6 (3 pts) - 8 (1 pt) - 2 (30 pts) 34 pts
8. Ron Hershman (2) 3 (12 pts) - - 1 (20 pts) - - - 32 pts
9. Paul Ciccarello (4) 5 (6 pts) 6 (4.5 pts) - 9 (0.8 pts) - 1 (20 pts) - 31.3 pts
10. Jay Kisling (2) 4 (9 pts) - - 3 (12 pts) - - - 21 pts
11. William Burnside (6) 6 (3 pts) - 5 (6 pts) 4 (9 pts) 11 (0.5 pts) 8 (1 pt) 16 (0 pts) 19.5 pts
12. Jay Guard (5) 9 (0.8 pt) - 7 (2 pts) 5 (6 pts) 5 (6 pts) 6 (3 pts) - 17.8 pts
13. Casey Scott (2) - - - 2 (15 pts) 9 (0.8 pts) - - 15.8 pts
14. Ray Bishop (3) - 7 (3 pts) - - 18 (0 pts) - 5 (12 pts) 15 pts
15. Ben McGuire (2) 7 (2 pts) - - - - 4 (9 pts) - 11 pts
16. Frank Sarkela (4) - 9 (1.2 pts) 9 (0.8 pts) - 6 (3 pts) - 9 (1.6 pts) 6.6 pts
17. Lee Gilbert (1) - - - - - - 17 + TQ 6 pts
18. Paul Sterrett (3) 10 (0.6 pt) - - 6 (3 pts) - 7 (2 pts) - 5.6 pts
19. Gary Johnson (1) - - - - - - 7 (4 pts) 4 pts
20. Jonathan Forsyth (6) 14 (0.2 pt) 8 (1.5 pts) 8 (1 pt) 12 (0.4 pts) 15 (0.1 pt) - 14 (0.4 pts) 3.6 pts
21. Don Perko(3) - 10 (0.9 pts) 10 (0.6 pts) - 14 (0.2 pts) - 11 (1 pt) 2.7 pts
22. Joe Pelan (3) 8 (1 pt) - 11 (0.5 pts) 8 (1 pt) - - - 2.5 pts
22. Jason Burnside (4) 11 (0.5 pt) - - 13 (0.3 pts) 13 (0.3 pts) 9 (0.8 pts) - 1.9 pts
23. Jamy Johnson (1) - - - - - - 8 (2 pts) 2 pts
24. Tyson Joyce (4) 13 (0.3 pt) - 13 (0.3 pts) 10 (0.6 pts) - 10 (0.6 pts) - 1.8 pts
25. Steve Forsyth (4) 12 (0.4 pt) - 12 (0.4 pts) 14 (0.2 pts) 12 (0.4 pts) - - 1.4 pts
26. Alicia Gilbert (2) - - - - 10 (0.6 pts) - 12 (0.8 pts) 1.4 pts
27. Harold Rowe (2) - - - - 16 (0 pts) - 10 (1.2 pts) 1.2 pts
28. Jason Stone (3) - 11 (0.75 pts) - - 17 (0 pts) - 15 (0.2 pts) 0.95 pts
29. Paul Kassens (1) - 12 (0.6 pts) - - - - - 0.6 pts
30. Monthy Ohren (1) - - 14 (0.2 pts) - - - - 0.2 pts
-

-

 14 entries 12 entries 14 entries 14 entries 18 entries 10 entries 17 entries -

22nd BALTIC STATES OPEN (8 ROUNDS OF 3 RACES)

AIVIS RUKS IS THE WINNER

   Rd 8: Tammeleht & Nabokins

The 22nd Baltic Open went (for the first time) to Latvia's Aivis Ruks, having finished 30 points ahead over multiple winner Janis Rage-Ragis. Struggle for the third place was very close with Peteris Taurins (3rd), Arunas Leonavicius (4th), Simas Nemira (5th), Raivis Jansond (6th) and last year's winner Andris Podosinoviks (7th) all finishing within 8 points. Of the 24 races 5 were won by Rage-Ragis, 3 by Ruks, Nemira and Podosinoviks, 2 by Peteris, Leonavicius and Jansons, 1 by Tammeleht, Nabokins, Viknse and the surprising Kink. First Lithuanian racer is Arunas Leonavicius, having finished 4th overall. First Estonian racer - and this is a surprise - is not Einar Viira but Kaiar Tammeleht having finished 11th overall. Ukraine's Valentin Iskandarov finishes 17th.
Of the 61 ranked racers only 37 reached at least once a top-10 position. We noted 404 entries for 24 races, that is a (poor) average of only 17 entrants per race. Aivis Ruks, Janis Rage-Ragis and Sandris Spricis finished 20 times out of 24 among the top-10. Nobody did better.
It has been decided that in 2005 the Baltic Open looses its IOC-status as one of the top-10 international events for scale racing cars. There is a total lack of innovation, attendance of those races is much too low, it are always the same racers found in the top of the ranking and no other racers (e.g. from Scandinavia or Russia) are still attracted by the Series. [JPVR]

  

Haapsalu (LV), May 12. Although officially the 8 and last round, the Haapsalu meeting on the new 6-laner, was already contested in May. Winners were Raivis Jansons in 132F1, Kaiar Tammeleht in ES24 and Jankins Nabokins in 124 PR G12.

I consider it as a total lack of respect for all entrants that at the end of the year even no official result was published, not on the Latvian web site and not on the Lithuanian web site. For 2005 nothing was changed. Although Latvia is by far the poorest country of the European Community the aparachiks of Baltian racing continue requiring that entrants show with hyper expensive ES32 and 132F1 cars. By doing so the Latvian elite defends its own status. More realistic should have been a competition with 124 PR, 124 X-12 and ES24, where only the 6 best results per racer are considered.

For 2005 calendar is as follows: February 12-13: Riga Daugmale; March 26-27 Vilnius; April 16-17: Riga-Imanta; June 18-19: Habaja; September 24-25: Vilnius; October 29-30: Hapsalu; November 26-27: Jelgava and December 17-18 Valmiera. Readers interested in the 2005 results will have to surf to the Baltic web sites. [JPVR]
Is IOC-status still justified?   Round 7 to Podosinoviks

The IOC-list is an overall ranking of racers, based upon top-8 results at the most prestigeous international races since 1970. Two years ago the Baltic Open was upgraded to such prestigeous IOC-event, but more and more racers feel unhappy with such status for a series without great innovation. Except for Joosep Kink (EE) all winners of a round at the 22nd Baltic Open are the same as during the three previous editions. At some rounds entries are an IOC status totally unworth. In September only 13 racers showed at Vilnius. In 132F1 and ES24 number of entrants was pretty low, never 20 or more. So, winning IOC-points is too easy for Baltic racers.
The hope that an up-grading of the series could result in the advent of racers from Sweden, Finland or Norway at the Baltic Open, was idle. It remains a typical regional series dominated by always the same racers. Without the venue of new racers there seems little chance that the Baltic Open can maintain any longer its status of international IOC-event. Why the expensive 132F1 is maintained, in the purest conservative ISRA tradition, is an open question. It should be much more resonable if the Baltic Open could be contested with PR124, ES24 and Open G-12 instead of maintaining ES32 and 132F1, being two typical British classes without the smallest future. The main criticism at the address of the Baltic Open is that, contrary to the EuroCup (where all Baltic racers were brilliant by their absence), it is no longer adapted to racing in a postmodern society, where ES24, Open G12 and PR124 are the new top classes. [JPVR]

  

Jelgava (LV), November 6-7. Just as at Valmiera Andris Podosinoviks (LV) gave once more full evidence that actually he is the best Baltic racer. At Jelgava he won 132F1 and ES32, whilst he finished 3rd in G12. That means that he collected 40 points out of a maximum of 45. The two first in the championship, Aivis Ruks (LV) and Janis Rage-Ragis (LV) had a rather poor week-end, collecting res. 12 and 13 points. In the overall standings, with one round to go Rage-Ragis is now 26 points behind Ruks. Without miracle that means that Ruks will be the winner of the 2004 Baltic Open. Poor week-end too for the third ranked, Simas Nemira (LT) having collected only 10 points. It is not impossible that at the last round at Haapsalu (EE) he'll loose his third place in the overall ranking to Andris Podosinoviks, who is already a provisional fourth, only six points down to Nemira.
Meanwhile Raivis Jansons (LV) could not conquer the third place in the overall ranking - a place he occupied after 4 rounds - despite a fine second place in G12 and a last main final place in ES32. He follows now in fifth position, at 10 points from the provisional third. By being absent at Jelgava Arunas Leonavicius (LT) dropped in the provisional ranking, with one round to go, to the sixth place. Peteris Taurins (LV), absolutely nowhere at the first half of the 22nd Baltic Open, made a good move at Jelgava, where he won the G12 race and finished as runner-up in the 132F1 race. That was good for 27 points, bringing him in the top-10 of the provisional ranking.

Round 5 to Aivis Ruks   Round 6 to Podosinoviks

Vilnius (LT), September 11-12. After four months of inactivity the Baltic Open continued with its second round at Vilnius. In F132F1 there were (only) 13 entrants and the race was won by Peteris Taurins (LV) ahead of local Arunas Leonavicius (LT) and championship's leader Aivis Ruks (LV). At ES32 we noted again a poor 13 entries. Here the winner was local Simas Nemira (LT) ahead of Aivis Ruks and Arunas Leonavicius. At ES24 again only 13 entrants and again Simas Nemira and Aivis Ruks at the two first places. Of all entrants Ruks won most points, 34, 3 more than Nemira. Championship's runner-up Janis Rage-Ragis (LV) collected only 14 points and sees his arrears on Ruks at the overall standings increasing. 2003 Baltic champion Andris Podosinoviks was again absent. Kaspar Duburs (LV), not seen earlier in competition, made his come-back and won 9 points. Except for Einar Viira there were no racers from Estonia at the start.

  

Valmiera (LV), October 2-3. Best Baltic racer at the Lund ISRA worlds was Andris Podosinoviks, in 2003 still winner of the Baltic Open. This year he was absent at most rounds of the Baltic Open. At Valmiera he dominated the ES32 race (20 entrants!), finishing 29 laps ahead over Aivis Ruks (LV) and 31 over Simas Nemira (LT). Podosinoviks won also the 132F1 race after a sharp combat with Janis Rage-Ragis (LV), finishing 5 laps further. Here Aivis Ruks was third. In PR G12 Podosinoviks was 5th out of 31 entrants. Winner was Arunas Leonavicius (LT) 6 laps ahead over Rage-Ragis and 8 over Sandis Spricis (LV). By collecting 36 points against 30 for Ruks and 29 for Rage-Ragis Podosinoviks was the Valmiera victor laudarum. Big deception for Kaiar Tammeleht who failed to finish once among the top-10. In the overall ranking Ruks has now 179 points against 152 for Rage-Ragis.
Round 3 to Janis Rage-Ragis  

Round 4 to Einar Viira

Riga Imanta (LV), April 11 - For the 2003 Baltic Cup winner Andris Podosinoviks (LV) it was his first entry this year. In ES32 he was runner-up to Janis Rage-Ragis (LV). In 132F1 he was again beaten by Rage-Ragis and finished only fourth. In ES24 he missed the main final, coming no further than a ninth place. That race was won by Ugis Viksne (LV). By winning 33 points Rage-Ragis was the victor ludorum of Riga Imanta 2004. Provisional Baltic Cup leader Avis Ruks (LV) scored only 25 points, 8 less than Rage-Ragis. That implied that after 3 rounds he and Rage-Ragis were co-leaders with 91 points each.
Since all other racers collected at Riga-Imanta less points than the two leaders the gap between them and the rest of the racers became bigger. Andris Podosinoviks eventually won 22 points at his first outing of the season.
Raivis Jansons (LV) collected 20 points, third most, and could conserve his third place in the provisional ranking.
Arunas Leonavicius (LT) - not so strong as last year - collected 17 points, just as Ugis Viksne. Then followed Agris Kirsteins (LV) with 16 points and Sandis Spricis (LV) with 14 points.
Simas Nemira (LT) and Einar Viira (EE) were the lonely other foreign racers together with Arunas Leonavicius to win points on foreign soil, res. 10 and 1.
Of the Latvian racers Peteris Taurins - who won only 6 points - could not convince. Kaspar Duburs was absent for the third consecutive time. Nobody could tell me what's the reason of this absence. Did he stop active racing? [JPVR]

  

Habaja (EE), May 30 - Although Einari Viira won none of the three races he won 30 points, more than any other competitor, by finishing second in 132F1, third in ES32 and fourth in G12. Biggest surprise, however, came from Joosep Kink (EE) - a name never seen before in international racing - who won the G12 race and finished fifth in 132F1, good for 21 points. Apart from Einari Viira only Simas Nemira (LT, winner in ES32) Avis Ruks (LV) won with res. 24 and 23 points more than newcomer Joosep Kink. One remembers that after round 3 in Riga Imanta Ruks and Janis Rage-Ragis (LV) were sharing the first place in the provisional ranking, both with 91 points. Since at Habaja only 17 points were won by Rage-Ragis (who won 132F1), thus 6 points less than Ruks, the last named is again leader in the provisional ranking.
Andris Podosinoviks (LV) was again absent at Habaja. One week earlier, however, he was a strong second behind world champion Michael Landrud at the ISRA warm-up races in view of the Lund Worlds. Baltic racers performed pretty well at those races with Ugis Viksne (LV) finishing twice sixth and once sevent; by Rage-Ragis finishing once fourth and once seventh; by Raivis Jansons (LV) finishing once fifth; and last but not least by Podosinoviks finishing three times as runner-up to Michael Landrud.
Astonishing is that after four rounds good old Kaspar Duburs (LV) was seen not once in competition. Disappointing this year are the results of Peteris Taurins (LV), normally one of the top guns in Baltic racing, but now only 18th with 10 points after 12 races. [JPVR]

 Round 1 to Janis Rage-Ragis
Riga Dougmale (LV), January 31 -  Round #1 of the 22nd Baltic States Open saw a low attendance with only 10 entrants in ES24, 12 in 132 F1 and 25 in PR124. Absent was the defending champion: Andris Podosinoviks. But also several other top guns were missing such as Arunas Leonavicius (LT), Simas Nemira (LT), Dainius Sidoras (LT), Heiko Tamme (EE), Kaspar Duburs (LV), Peteris Taurins (LV), etc. The meeting was initially dominated by Avis Ruks who won ES24, finished as runner-up in 132F1 and as 5th in PR124, good for 33 points. Biggest surprise was Raivis Jansons, last year only 21st with a 4th place in 132F1 and a 6th place in PR124. At the curtain raiser of this year's Baltic Open, however, he won the PR124 race ahead of Janis-Rage-Ragis, the godfather of all Baltic Racing. By finishing also third in F1 he collected at once 25 points, that is the double of his collected points over 8 rounds last year. The F1 race was won by Janis Rage-Ragis, ahead of Ruks and Jansons. By finishing second in PR124 and again second in ES24 Janis Rage-Ragis collected no less than 39 points and was the winner of the opening round. This year the Baltic Open goes again over 8 rounds, but number of races per round has been restricted to 3, so that there will be 24 races for the whole season. Last year that was still 28. The Open G12 class has been replaced by PR124, what nomally should result in more entries. We have no information why Andris Podosinoviks was absent. It may be true that the Baltic States are now member of the NATO (4 Belgian F16 planes are protecting the Baltic air), and also be true that they'll become members of the European Community, but contact with Baltic racers is as good as nil.

 

       Round 2 to Avis Ruks
Vilnius (LT), February 28 - Again attendance was rather low with 16 entrants in ES24, 20 in ES32 and 19 in PR124. This time the local stars - Arunas Leonavicius, Simas Nemira, Dainius Sidoras, etc. - were present. Just as in Riga the ES24 race was won by Avis Ruks, now ahead of Leonavicius and of Agris Kirsteins (who entered only PR124 at Riga). Ruks did it over in ES32, collecting his third visit to victory lane in 6 races. Here he could beat Ugis Viksne and Valentin Iskandarov of Ukraine. The last was not seen in competition last year. By finishing also fourth in ES24 he proved having nothing lost of his racing talent. Arunas Leonavicius, who came no further than seventh in ES32 and missed victory in ES24 (by finishing as runner-up to Ruks) took his revenge in the PR124, where he won ahead of G12 specialist Janis Nabokins (who doesn't enter the other classes) and Janis Rage-Ragis. For the grey lord of Baltic Racing the meeting of Vilnius was not the same success as in Riga. His other results were an eighth place in ES24 and a fourth place in ES32. Simas Nemira disappointed with two fifth places and a sixth in PR124. Dainius Sidoras could only once made the top-8 by finishing fourth in PR124. The big surprise of the opening round at Riga, Raivis Jansons, could confirm his progress by finishing eighth in ES24 and fourth in PR124. Victor ludorum of Vilnius was undoubtedly Avis Ruks, having collected 34 points, enough to take the lead in the provisional ranking, 8 points ahead of Janis Rage-Ragis. Then follow Raivis Jansons and Ugis Viksne with 34 points. Podosinoviks, Taurins and Duburs were again absent. Next meeting in Riga-Imanta on April 10-11.
22nd Baltic Open in a nut shell
nat 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 pts

racer

   ES24 124G12

ES32

132 F1
1. Ruks Avis LV 1 1 3 2 2   5 7

10

 4     1 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3   3 213
2. Rage-Ragis Janis LV 2 9 8  

1

 6 2 3

9

 2 4 4 4 1   4 6   1 1 1 2   5 183
3. Taurins Peteris LV       5 5         8 1 3               5 7 4 2 1 119
4. Leonavicius Arunas LT   2 2     4   1   1   5 7   6 3   10   6   8   2 118
5. Nemira Simas LT   5 7

1

   7   6

7

       5 4 1 1 3 4     6     10 117
6. Jansons Raivis LV   8         1 5

2

   2     3   10 8 1 3 3 9 7   8 112
7. Podosinoviks Andris LV     9   3 10       5 3 2   2     1     4   1 1   111
8. Spricis Sandis LV     5 9 4 2 3 8

5

 3 9 7 8 5 9   9 7 7 9 10   6 4 102
9. Viksne Ugis LV 3 7

1

 4 6 8           9 2 9   6 10   4       4 6 89
10. Makuskovs Sergej LV 4   6 8 7 5             10 10   5 7 5 5 7 8   10 9 62
11. Tammeleht Kaiar EE 5 6      

1

 6 10

6

     10     4     3             56
12. Viira Einar EE     10 7 9      

4

 10 10       3 9 5       2 10 8   55
13. Kirsteins Agris LV   3 4 3       9         6 6   8       8       7 54
14. Duburs Kaspar LV       6 8 3         7 6       7 4 9         7   50
15. Nabokins Janis LV             4 2   6 6 1                         45
16. Kink Joosep EE                

1

 7 8            

8

     5   5   37
17. Iskandarov Valenti UKR   4                     3                       18
18. Roslakovs Maris LV                                           6 3   15
19. Viira Ilmar EE                       8     5       6           14
20. Jakobsons Edijs LV 8 10         9           9 7                     12
21. Taurins Martins LV                     5                     5     12
22. Sidoras Dainius LT       10   9   4                                 11
23. Jogilaine Margus EE                

3

                               10
24. Keldrima Karl EE                             7     6             9
25. Silm Sander EE                                         4       8
26. Rullis Martins LV             8                       8 10         7
27. Brensons Ilmar LV 9       10   7                                   7
28. Tamme Heiko EE                

8

           8                   6
29. Kangur Jacob EE 6                                               5
30. Jankovskis Alens LT 7                                               4
31. Greiszins Maris LV                                     9           2
32.Steinbergs Raimon LV                                             9   2
33. Brils Reinis LV                                           9     2
34. Jankovskis Aldis LV 10                                   10           1
35. Abolins Janis LV 10                                               1
36. Liliensteins Reinis LV             10                                   1
37. Tamme Arne EE                             10                   1
Kristaps Viesturs LV                                                  
Kautsaar Mait EE                                                  
Maksevics Gatis LV                                                  
Berins Roberts LT                   9                              
    10 16 12 13 13 14 25 19 14 31 23 30 20 13 14 13 20 20 12 15 12 19 13 13 404

SLUGFEST AMERICAN FLATS (FORMER CANDIDATE IOC-RACE)

JUNE 25-27, SEATTLE SLUGFEST (USA)
RAY BISHOP IMPROVES 2003 RESULTS
RAY BISHOP WINS  FIVE RACES ON SIX ENTRIES

July 12 - The Seattle Slugfest was during years, especially in the 1980s one of the American classics in wing car racing. Since the 1990s IMCA USA replaced it by a series of races for scale cars. In 2002 the name "Seattle Slugfest" was replaced by "American Flat Track Worlds". It was an ambitious project but no other than American racers showed. Last year the event was a candidate IOC-event. This year the entry was too poor to maintain the status as candidate IOC-event. Former winners as Matt Zenovitch (actually soldier in Korea) and Neil Stewart (withdrawn from slot-racing) were absent. 2002 world champion Philip Helmuth (last year unhappy with the event) was absent too, just as Roy Hood, Fred Hood, Chris Radisich, Bob Everett, Roberts, etc. - all present in 2003. Paul Chicarello, Paul Gawronski, Greg Gilbert and Tracy Chin - the top-4 of American scale racing - didn't show.
Top guns at the start in 2004 were Lee Gilbert (who entered only one of the eight races), Herman James and last year's top-2 Ray Bishop and Bill Clemans. In total 22 different racers showed for the 8 races. At ES32 there were only 6 entrants, at IRL G12 only 8 and at 124 LMP Pro only 9. Why organisers continue to call their event - totally illegal, since the name was patented for slot-racing on December 12, 1985 - a "Worlds" is far from obvious. The Seattle Slugfest became a local American race without the smallest international allure. Hopes to make it an IOC-event are gone, such is clear. Once a strong competition between youngsters, even that aspect of the Seattle Slugfest couldn't longer be maintained. Alicia Gilbert - last year already best youngster - was this year alone among the under 22-year racers. She did it pretty well by finishing third in the main event: ES24. Herman James, who won last year both ES24 and ES32 couldn't confirm those performances this year, finishing 4th in ES24 and winning the 5-entries ES32.
ES24 podium with Ray Bishop (mid) as winner, Harald Rowe (left) as second and Alicia Gilbert (right) as third.
Podium of the G12 race won by Ray Bishop (mid) ahead of Lee Gilbert (left) and Wayne Hallabourda (right) - PIC courtesy to OWH

Last year Ray Bishop entered seven of the eight races and finished six times on the podium. This year he was just outstanding. He entered six races and won five of them, finishing second in G12-GT. The remaining races were won by Bill Clemans (G12-GT), by Herman James (ES32) and by Gary Johnson (IRL G12).
Both over the four major races for the AFTW Trophy as over all eight races Ray Bishop is first, Bill Clemans second and Herman James third. Herman James was expected to come over to the ISRA Scale Racing Worlds in Lund (Sweden) als lonely American scale racer. However, we received a mail from him telling us that he couldn't do the trip for familial reasons.
Much was expected from Mike Stahl, the astonishing runner-up in ES24 at this year's USRA Division II Nats. He failed to confirm this excellent result. He finished only ninth in ES24, twelfth in G12, tenth in G10 Pro. His best performance was a seventh place in G12-GT.
Serious progress was made this year by Wayne Hallabourda who made - just as did Harold Rowe - the eight races to obtain two podiums (in ES32 and in G12), one fourth (in C-1), two fifth (in ES24 and in IRL) and two sixth places (in Pro G10 and in LMP). Only in G12-GT, where he finished eleventh he missed the main final.
Progress too for Harold Rowe who was the surprising runner-up in ES24. He made the eight races, finishing six times among the top-8.
Doug Yarbrough was twice runner-up (in Pro G10 and in C-1). Lee Gilbert (in G12) and Paul Kassens in ES32 were the other racers having finished once as runner-up.
Other racers than Bishop (6 podia), Clemans (4 podia), James (3 podia), Gary Johnson (2 podia), Hallabourda (2 podia), Doug Yarbrough (2 podia), Paul Kassens (1 podium) and Lee Gilbert (1 podium) to have reached the podium once as third were Craig Rieland and Alicia Gilbert.

                RESULTS OF THE 2004 FLATS
Four of the eight races count for the AFTW Trophy. We publish the points won at att eight races. Within brackets one finds the final ranking at the AFTW standings. As one can see Ray Bishop won for the second consecutive year ahead of Bill Clemans.

  ES24 ES32 G12 12GT G10 C-1 LMP IRL pts
1. Ray Bishop (1) 10 - 10 8 10 10 10 - 58
2. Bill Clemans (2) 2 - 2 10 6 6 8 5 39
3. Herman James (3) 5 10 5 6 4 - 1 8 39
4. W. Hallabourda (5) 4 6 6 0 3 5 3 4 31
5. Gary Johnson (10) 0 - 0 0 5 3 6 10 24
6. Doug Yarbrough (4) 1 - 3 3 8 8 - - 23
7. Harold Rowe (7) 8 4 1 0 0 4 4 2 23
8. Craig Rieland (9) - - 4 4 - - 5 6 19
9. Paul Kassens (12) - 8 - - 2 - 0 3 13
10. Alicia Gilbert (6) 6 - - 5 1 - - - 12
11. Lee Gilbert (8) - - 8 - - - - - 8
12. Jim Langdon - 5 0 - - - - - 5
13. Kevin Kosir (11) 3 - 0 0 0 - - - 3
14. Mike Stahl (12) 0 - 0 2 0 - - - 2
15. Dennis Cook - - - - 0 - 2 - 2
16. Rod Roseling - - 0 0 - - - 1 1
17. Jim Hilgartner (14) - - 0 1 - - - - 1
18. Jamie Johnson 0 - - 0 - - - - 0
19. Chris Roseling - - 0 0 - - - - 0
20. Jay MacClelland 0 - - 0 - - - - 0
21. Kenny Richins - - 0 - - - - - 0
22. Bob Williams - - - 0 - - - - 0


Ray Bishop, best performer at the Slugfest with six podia out of seven entries. TOP: ES24 podium with Ray Bishop, Herman James and Doug Yarbrough. MID: ES32 podium with Matt Zenovitch, Herman James and Ray Bishop.
2003 IOC RACES FOR SCALE CARS